CALLING FOUL

04.29.14

NBA Expected to Sanction Sterling Today

Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty

National Basketball Association Commissioner Adam Silver is expected to announce a decision regarding sanctions and other punishments for Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling. Clippers Coach Doc Rivers has rebuffed efforts from Sterling to reach out to him, and many major companies, including State Farm, Sprint, and Red Bull, have suspended their team sponsorships. Andrew Zimbalist, an economics professor and former consultant to the NBA Players Association, said he predicts Silver will try to force Sterling to sell the team, following the publicity of his reported racist comments. “He’ll tell Sterling, ‘If you choose to stay, I won’t let you go to any games. I won’t let you make any personnel decisions. I won’t let you communicate with the general manager. You could do that, or sell the team.’”